A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Here we go!
DISCLAIMER: Only the plot of this story. Nothing else.
Chapter Four: Secrets
Summer quietly crept into the foyer of her home. She could hear the television blaring from the living room and her father's office light was on, with the door closed. If she was quiet and quick enough she could make it to her room without her father knowing she was home. She slipped her shoes off and ran quietly across the foyer to the staircase. She reached it, just as her phone began ringing.
"Shit!" hissed Summer grabbing it and flipping it open.
Seth of all people was calling her. She hit the answer button hoping her father didn't hear her or the phone.
"What Cohen?" she hissed into the phone with venom in her tone.
"Actually its Ryan," came his voice, "I rang to say sorry for the kiss-"
"Oh no," whimpered Summer dropping the phone as her father stormed out of his office towards her. She glanced down at the phone to see it was still on and could faintly hear Ryan calling her name in panic.
"Daddy, please," pleaded Summer in a terrified tone, "I won't misbehave again! I swear!"
OC
Ryan listened as he heard the sounds of Summer screaming, before holding the phone to his ear and running upstairs to Sandy and Kirsten's bedroom door. He banged on it noisily until Sandy opened it with his tie the only thing missing.
"Ryan, what is it?" he asked.
Ryan didn't reply and handed him the phone only saying, "Listen."
Sandy held the phone to his ear and his mouth fell open in shock as he heard the scared and pain filled scream of Summer Roberts.
"It's Summer," said Ryan, "Her father is beating her!"
Sandy handed the phone to Ryan, "Keep listening and follow me, Kirsten call the police, tell them to go to the Robert's place."
Kirsten nodded and dialled in the emergency number, "What about Seth?"
"Where is he?"
"Having a shower."
"Tell him when he gets out, come on Ryan."
Ryan ran down the stairs behind Sandy and into the car as he heard Summer scrape the phone from the ground.
"Summer?" said Ryan as they sped out of the driveway, "What did he do to you?"
"Help me," whimpered Summer, "He'll be back Ryan… please."
"We are on our way. So are the police," assured Ryan, "Don't worry Summer. He won't hurt you anymore."
He heard Summer whimper into the phone followed by a sob.
"Summer, can you get outside?"
"No… he is in the lounge room."
Just as Summer answered him Sandy turned sharply up the road to Summer's house.
"We are almost there," said Ryan, "Move slowly towards the door. If you have to slide the mobile over to you have an excuse."
"O-okay," answered Summer placing the mobile on the ground and sliding it towards the front door.
Carefully, but with a lot of pain Summer crawled over to the phone, glancing over at the lounge room archway every few seconds. As she grabbed the phone both the police and the Cohen's arrived at her place.
"Oh thankyou!" cried Summer loudly as Sandy, Ryan and four police officer's ran to the front door.
"YOU LITTLE BITCH!" yelled her father storming into the foyer and grabbing Summer by the hair, "You will not get away with this!"
"Let her go!" yelled Ryan being held back by Sandy and the four policemen raised their guns at her father.
"Release the girl Mr Roberts," yelled one officer.
Her father threw her to the ground and had two officers pin him down. Sandy and Ryan rushed over to Summer who hugged Ryan in tears. Ryan carefully helped Summer stand as her stepmother stumbled into the foyer.
"Whasgoinon?" she slurred together before sipping her bottle of whiskey.
"I'm leaving," said Summer looking at the woman she had hated from day one, "And I'm never coming back here again."
One of the officer's went to talk to her stepmother while Ryan led a shaken Summer outside, where an ambulance had arrived. The attendants took Summer to the vehicle to mend her cuts. One officer followed to take her statement. Ryan looked over at Summer who glanced at him before answering the officer.
"This I never thought could happen," said Sandy shaking his head, "That poor girl. Who knows how long it has been this way?"
Ryan nodded, "I was lucky to call her. Where will she go now?"
"Summer can stay with us for as long as she needs too," replied Sandy, "Despite her and Seth's break up."
Ryan sighed. That would make things harder on them all. Tension would take over between Seth and Summer and Ryan didn't know where things stood between him and Summer.
OC
Summer shut the bathroom door behind her at the Cohen's. She looked at her reflection and bit her lower lip. Above her eye was a cut with a bruise on her left cheek. Her ribs were sore from the beating and her wrist was bandaged up from being sprained. She was battered and worn down to nothing.
Even though Ryan calling her had triggered her arrival home she was glad he did call. Without him she would still be living in that nightmare of a home. She had to return tomorrow morning with Kirsten to get her belongings.
She stripped off her ruined clothes and showered, carefully scrubbing over injuries, old and new. Her father's beatings had been going since she was ten. This was the first time he had made the beatings happen in visible places.
She dried and dressed in a pair of Kirsten's pyjamas. She walked down stairs into the kitchen where everyone, including Seth were standing in silence.
"I just want to thankyou all," said Summer quietly, mainly looking at Ryan, "For everything."
Summer bit her lower lip and looked down at her hands, the uninjured one gingerly touching the bandaged one. Tears sat in the corner of her eyes and only began falling as Kirsten wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into a hug.
The three men left, all retreating to their bedrooms as Summer cried into Kirsten's shoulder, who held her tightly in a daughter manner.
When Summer calmed down, Kirsten led her up to her room, the guest room.
"We can decorate it any way you would like," said Kirsten quietly, "This is your home Summer. But if you want to live somewhere else, that will be fine."
Summer smiled and entered the plain looking room with another door inside leading to the walk in wardrobe and a double bed with sunset orange quilt cover. Summer climbed into the bed and turned the lamp on. She couldn't sleep in the dark. It terrified her.
Sleep that night for Summer was plagued with continuous nightmares of her father coming and beating her, raping her. But every time one person would save her, it wasn't Seth either, it was his bestfriend.
OC
"Have a good day Ryan," smiled Kirsten as the blonde haired boy left with Sandy and Seth for his first day back at Harbour.
Ryan waved at Kirsten and gave Summer a small smile as she walked down the staircase. Summer smiled back but looked away when Seth glanced at her. Kirsten walked over to the staircase and looked at Summer with a small frown.
"Did you sleep at all last night?" she asked.
"A little," replied Summer, "Umm… I have nothing to wear."
"Follow me. My sister Haley left plenty of things here," said Kirsten as Summer followed her up to the bedroom, "She has more clothes then a department store."
Summer smiled as Kirsten handed her jeans and dark purple cotton ¾ sleeve top, "Thanks."
"Your welcome. Would you like something to eat?" asked Kirsten, "I brought bagels yesterday because Sandy kept hounding me for them."
"I'm not really that hungry, but thankyou anyway Mrs C."
"Kirsten. Call me Kirsten."
Summer nodded and Kirsten left her to get dressed and prepare herself for her final trip to the house where her nightmares came from.
OC
"Ryan!"
Ryan closed his locker and turned to see Anna running over to him. Ryan grinned and hugged his old friend, "What are you doing back?"
"Couldn't stay away," laughed Anna, "So your allowed back?"
Ryan nodded, "For good."
Anna nodded with a smile but looked around her curiously, "Have you seen Summer by any chance?"
"She isn't here today. Follow and I'll tell you why. But not with her near by," said Ryan nodding in Taylor Townsend's direction, who was watching Ryan and Anna curiously.
Anna nodded and both walked quickly down the corridor and entering an empty classroom. Ryan closed the door behind him and turned to Anna.
"Summer was beat up last night," started Ryan, being replied with a horrified look on Anna's face, "By her father."
Ryan told Anna all that he knew and that Summer was going to live with him and the Cohen's. Anna sat down in a seat shaking her head in shock.
"I never suspected it," she said, "She was always so… happy and carefree."
"When Seth broke up with her I knew something else was going on," said Ryan, "Just from how she spoke and acted."
"Marissa should know. I know things between those two aren't the best but they have grown up as bestfriend's."
Ryan nodded, "It should be Summer who tells Marissa."
Anna agreed and both left the classroom to face the looming day, not knowing Taylor had seen them enter the classroom and was already spreading untrue rumours.
OC
Summer stood outside the car starring at her own nightmare, the two-storey white building with a sweeping staircase leading to the front door. Kirsten walked around to her side with unfolded boxes in her arms with sticky tape on top. Summer started walking and Kirsten followed her up the stairs. As far as Summer knew her father was in jail waiting for the court hearing. Sandy said he would represent Summer with no hesitations and that her father could be put away for a solid ten years. This suited Summer fine. Regardless that she would be poor, all she cared about was that she was finally free.
They walked through the foyer, ignoring the blood spots o the ground from Summer last night or the broken whiskey bottle on the ground.
Summer entered her room and looked around. It was her sanctuary but now she had a complete new safe haven.
"We'll just take clothes and other things you would like to keep," said Kirsten, "Sandy and I can provide you with everything else."
Summer nodded and her and Kirsten got busy with packing up clothes, photo's, CD's, Summer's The Valley DVD collection along with her Golden Girl's ones. After three busy hours they were done. The last thing Summer collected was her Miss Sparkles. She slipped her into her handbag and four trips later Summer was leaving her old home for good.
OC
Marissa exited her Maths class ignoring Johnny's pleading eyes. She walked to her locker and pulled out her book for her next lesson. She closed it to have Johnny leaning next to her.
"Mar-"
"Leave me alone, Johnny," snapped Marissa, "I think you have caused enough problems."
Marissa walked away, but Johnny followed, only to be pushed away from her by Chilly. Casey glared at Johnny, linking arms with Marissa.
"Annoy these two again," warned Chilly, "And I'll make sure you never annoy a living soul."
Johnny glared at Chilly but turned, walking away in the opposite direction.
After the classes, Chilly, Casey and Marissa were sitting at their table eating lunch and talking about random things when Marissa's phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and sighed.
"It's my Mum," she said before hitting the answer button, "Hi Mum."
"Marissa, hi. I have found us a place," replied Julie Cooper-Nichol excitedly, "Three bedroom for you, me and Caitlin combined living room and dining room with the kitchen divided away from the kitchen. One bathroom. How does that sound?"
"Where is it?"
"Just ten minutes away from the Cohen's, so you can still see Ryan whenever you want."
"Mum, Ryan and I broke up and I have been staying with Casey for the past few days because Summer and I don't talk that much anymore."
"Oh well, least we will still be in Newport. I got a job as a Sectary at advertising company twenty minutes away. We can move in officially on the weekend. I have to get out furniture from storage… at least Caleb put most of the furniture in my name," said Julie bitterly.
"Well that sounds great Mum. Least we will be a family again."
"I know. Well I have to go! Caitlin arrives home from boarding school soon. Bye Marissa."
"Bye Mum. Tell Caitlin I say hi."
Marissa hung up and looked up at Casey, "Mum got a place. We move in on the weekend and Caitlin arrives home. She'll be going to middle school. No doubt Harbour Middle School."
"Can your Mum afford that?" asked Casey.
Marissa shrugged, "Don't know."
OC
"Ryan… Ryan!" yelled Seth pushing through the people in the corridor to get to his brother, "Will you just slow down man!"
Ryan stopped walking and turned to Seth, "So, are we on speaking terms?"
Seth shrugged, "Are we?"
Ryan shrugged back, "I guess."
Seth just nodded, "Okay… past the awkwardness. I heard a rumour."
"When aren't their rumours flying around this place?"
"Never but still, this one is about you and another young lady."
Ryan froze. Did someone see him and Summer out at MacDonald's last night? If that was the case, why was Seth grinning about it?"
"What?" asked Ryan looking anywhere but at Seth's face.
"That you and Anna were seen entering a classroom together and leaving it a good half hour later."
Ryan frowned, "So?"
"So, man! You and Anna! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Wait," said Ryan finally understanding, "You think Anna and I were getting up to something? Seth, I was telling her about Summer away from everyone else."
"Oh," said Seth nodding slowly, "Oh… telling Anna."
Ryan shoved Seth, "Anna and I have always been friends. She is your ex for starters."
"So? I'm over her. If you went for her I wouldn't care, man… are you interested in Anna?"
"No," replied Ryan as they headed to the cafeteria, "I just broke up with Marissa."
As they grabbed their food, Anna joined them at the normal table the group sat at.
"So how do you feel about being back at Harbour, Ryan?" asked Anna stabbing at her salad.
"Nothing's changed. Just no Marissa."
"Yeah," agreed Seth opening his bottle of drink up, "No lovey dovey couple stuff."
"You are in the same position," replied Anna, "So your just the same as Ryan."
Seth shrugged, pretending to be interested in his burger while Ryan focused on his pasta. He couldn't tell Seth about what may possibly be happening between him and Summer, Ryan didn't even know what was happening.
OC
"So the painters are coming tomorrow and so is your new furniture," smiled Kirsten at Summer, "Are you sure you want the carpet to stay white?"
Summer nodded, "The furniture is going to be white and you have already spent a fortune. I'll find a way to repay you, I swear."
"Summer, don't even think about that. It is your room."
Summer smiled. Tomorrow her room was getting painted a baby pink. Her bed was getting a new pale yellow cotton quilt cover set. Her furniture was going to be all white and she was getting a new TV, DVD player and a stereo. To sit on, she was getting two beanbags, one yellow the other pink. Her and Kirsten had already packed her clothes away and contacted the school about her address change and the other people who needed to be contacted.
Now her and Kirsten were sitting at the table drinking iced teas and had just finished organising Summer's room to be redecorated.
"You know, you remind me of what I remember about my Mum," said Summer quietly, "I was nine when she died but certain things you say or do remind me of her."
Kirsten smiled, "Your mother looked a lot like you. You have her witty humour and talent for quick remarks."
Summer smiled, "I never knew that. Dad used to avoid talking about Mum. He… I think he did what he did because he was scared of me. Because I look a lot like her."
"He still shouldn't have done that Summer. You are his daughter."
Summer sighed, "Just because he is related to me by blood doesn't make him my father."
As Kirsten was about to reply Seth, Ryan and Anna walked into the kitchen. Anna walked over to Summer and gave her a hug.
"How are you?" she asked with worry in her brown eyes.
"Sore. But the bastard can't keep me down forever," replied Summer, "Hey I have the Golden Girls on DVD… do you want to watch them?"
Anna sighed, "I wish I could but I have homework and my Mum is working late. I came by to see how you were."
Summer nodded, "Alright. So I'll see you later."
Anna nodded, said bye and left. Kirsten excused herself from the kitchen and Seth walked over to Summer. She glanced at Ryan, who quickly retreated to the pool house, but leaving his door open.
"Summer… look I know what has happened between us has made things awkward," said Seth sitting down beside her, "I'm not asking you to forgive me-"
"Good, because I wasn't planning to," replied Summer matter factly.
"Can we at least try to be friends?"
Summer sighed, "Fine. We can be friends, but I am telling you now Cohen, we will never be anything else and if I date anyone else you will not butt into the relationship. If you do, I will be sure to make your life a living hell."
Seth nodded with a smile, "That's fine with me."
A/N: Well there is a twist! Please review!
Bye for now!
Love yas!
Love Coz!